US Army to take delivery of 400th UH-72A Lakota helicopter from Airbus

The US Army is set to receive its 400th UH-72A Lakota helicopter as part of a contract awarded to Airbus Helicopters.

Selected by the army in 2006, the UH-72A Lakota is a twin-engine aircraft equipped with a latest digital glass cockpit, flight controls and navigation systems.

Airbus Helicopters president Chris Emerson said: “From the moment when the army awarded Airbus the contract to produce the UH-72A, our team has strived daily to deliver on our promises to the army, to the dedicated soldiers who operate these aircraft, to the US Government and the taxpayers.

“We have produced a superb aircraft that meets the army’s requirements and quality standards, and we have also delivered on our promise to provide outstanding support to keep the army’s Lakotas flying and ready to perform vital missions.”

The Lakotas are assembled at Airbus Helicopters facility in Columbus, Mississippi, US.

“We have produced a superb aircraft that meets the army’s requirements and quality standards.”

The company also provides contractor logistics support for the helicopters under a five-year, nearly $1bn contract awarded by the army in December 2016.

Airbus provides the support at Army and National Guard bases in 43 states, including Fort Rucker, and in Kwajalein, Guam, Puerto Rico and Germany.

The UH-72A is operated by the army and Army National Guard units to conduct missions such as flight training, surveillance and reconnaissance, medical evacuations, border security, VIP transport and disaster response.

The US Army also selected the Lakota for its initial entry rotary wing training programme as part of its aviation restructuring initiative. The helicopter has flown more than 460,000 since its introduction.